“That’s not why I’m unhappy. I lost a bet because of you.”
“What bet?” Brandi frowned at her soon-to-be former partner.
“The one about whether you’d really leave or not. You’ve always changed your mind at the last minute. I said you’d do it again this time, too.”
“Sorry. How much are you out?”
“Fifty bucks.”
“Ouch.” She winced then playfully stuck her tongue out at him. “Next time, don’t bet against me. I told you I was done, that I was tired of dealing with the crazies. I want a nice quiet job for a change. One that will give me a chance at leading a normal life.”
“What’s so great about a normal life? It’s way over-rated.”
She began to check the desk drawers to ensure they were empty. “Well, I want to find that out for myself. With any luck, I’ll be assigned to a small territory with half a dozen nice, normal packs. I’ll spend my time helping cover up simple wolf sightings on the edge of town perpetrated by high spirited pups. I might even get to be part of a real pack again.”
Al was quiet for a minute, and when he spoke again it was in an uncharacteristically serious voice. “You miss that don’t you? Being part of a real pack.”
Brandi closed the final drawer and straightened. “Yeah. A few years ago, I couldn’t wait to escape pack life but now… ” She shrugged, idly twisting a paper clip she’d found. “Don’t get me wrong, the pseudo pack that we form within our unit is wonderful. Everyone is supportive and caring but it’s not the same. I won’t find a mate here and I can’t raise pups when I’m traipsing all over the continent, gone for weeks at a time. I love my job but I want a real relationship, too.” She looked up at Al and gave him a sad smile. “You understand, don’t you?”
A part of her felt guilty about deceiving Al with her story of wanting to find a mate. However, a simple lie was easier than explaining the real reason she needed to leave. That was too personal to share, even with a good friend like Al. Besides, it wasn’t just her story to tell. It was Reno’s too, even if the man didn’t know it.
“Yeah, I understand.” He stepped closer and gave her a one-armed hug. “But you know, if you just hang in there, you and Reno could—”
She cut him off. “Al, enough is enough. I’ve tried having a relationship with the man and both times he’s turned on me simply because of my job.”
“Maybe he’s just not tactful. Being an Enforcer, you have to be pretty blunt.”
Brandi sighed. “Al, what is it with you? Why do you keep trying to play matchmaker?”
Al shifted his feet and shrugged. “I’m a romantic at heart. You had a thing for him once. And you’re both the best at your jobs. It just seems right that you should be together.”
“It’s not going to happen, so give it a rest, okay?” She shook her head thinking how much she was going to enjoy not hearing Al harp at her about Reno. The way he was fixated on the two of them being together was just weird.
“If you guys hook up, you’ll stay and I won’t have to break in a new partner. Who knows? She might be a hard task master.” Al gave her a pleading look and she laughed.
“The puppy dog eyes won’t work on me, Zimmerman. And now I know your real motive. You don’t want a new partner because she might actually make you do some real work.”
“I work!” He looked around and grabbed a stack of boxes. “See? I‘m carrying boxes for you.”
She folded her arms. “Those are empty.”
“Oh.” He set them down and grabbed another set, faking grunting and straining under their weight.
“You don’t have to help. I can carry them. I wouldn’t want you to strain anything.”
“No, I’ll help. Otherwise you’ll be late for your farewell party at Clancy’s.”
“A farewell party? Al, I’m only going on a week’s vacation and then switching offices. That hardly constitutes the need for a party!”
“We know, but it’s a chance to cut loose. Besides, Clancy gives out free finger food if it’s a special occasion.” Al waggled his eyebrows and laughed.
Brandi rolled her eyes and watched Al grab another box and tuck it under his arm before heading towards the elevator. She’d really miss the goof-ball, but it was time to move on. Three years of living in her own personal purgatory was enough. She could only hope that the old adage was wrong and distance didn’t make the heart grow fonder but would, in fact, dull the ache inside her. With any luck she’d find a pack that was to her liking, make friends, and start a new and fulfilling life. As for a mate and pups, well… She rubbed her tongue against her teeth and sighed. That part was doubtful given her one-sided bond—however, maybe without constant reminders and sufficient time…
Picking up a box, she followed Al down the hall.
“So, where are you going on vacation?” Al pushed the elevator button with his elbow. “Some place exotic?”
“No. I think I’ll head back home to my birth pack. I haven’t been there since I left for the Academy except for a quick trip when my mother died.”
“You’re going home?” Al gave her a funny look.
“What? Is that so unusual?”
“No. It’s just that I thought you’d cut all ties with them. You said you didn’t want to be associated with a two-bit mining town hidden away in the mountains.”
“And I don’t… exactly.” She furrowed her brow and tried to explain. “It’s like I’ve always said, growing up in Kolding’s Pass was akin to being a hillbilly. Minimal contact with the outside world, stuck in the mountains. People work hard, under hard conditions and die young. The coal mine was almost played out about the time I was born and—”
“So why go back? Your family is gone. Do something fun. Go to a resort. Don’t let yourself get dragged back into that depressing scenario again. They might ask you to stay and you’re too good a DC officer for that.”
“Don’t worry, Al. I won’t. A quick visit for a few days to see my aunt and cousins. That’s all I’m planning on.”
“It’d better be. If you’re not back in a week, I’ll come looking for you.”
“And here I thought you didn’t care.” She made a face at him as the elevator doors slid open and they both stepped inside.
~~~
Reno had a dull throbbing headache. All day he’d been dealing with paperwork, attending briefings on proposed amendments to the interpretation of the Book of the Law, and now he was stuck in yet another discussion about the anonymous threatening letters his unit had been receiving and their possible ties to the Purist leadership.
The conversation was going around and around with no real solutions being reached. The leader of the Purists kept himself carefully out of the limelight. No one knew who he was or where he could be found. His lieutenants were also hard to track down and even when they were, they always claimed not to know his real identity.
“Someone has to know something,” Captain Fielding grumbled as he flipped through the thick file they’d accumulated on the group.
“If only they’d do something outright illegal that we could pin on them,” Damien complained.
“They’re not stupid. Stating their opinion about halves isn’t against our laws. It falls under freedom of speech,” the captain explained.
“But it’s spreading intolerance.” Damien countered.
“According to the Purists, that’s open to interpretation. In their mind the Book of the Law states weres and humans aren’t to associate. The bonding laws state it clearly and it’s implicit in the Keeping. Interacting with humans endangers us all and should be punished. What is a half but the product of an association between the species?” Reno played devil’s advocate.
“Very well put. You sound like a card-carrying Purist, Reno.” The captain gave him a surprised look.
Reno shrugged. “I pay attention at the meetings.”
“Glad someone does,” Fielding grumbled under his breath.
Damien gave a heavy sigh. “I know all that.
I just get frustrated and wish Lycan Link would move faster with the changes it’s trying to implement.”
“If they move too fast, there’s the danger of a backlash from the more traditional packs.” The captain rocked back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “You’re both too young to remember this but the Revised Rights and Freedom Act caused quite an uproar when it came out. Change takes time and we don’t want to drive packs into the Purists’ arms.”
Reno nodded, understanding where their leaders were coming from even though it annoyed him. However, he’d had enough for now and showed it by standing up. “We’ve talked this to death and not really made any progress. Let’s call it a day.”
The captain sighed and sat up straight, his chair making a faint sound as the front legs came into contact with the floor. “I agree. Dismissed.”
“That was a fun way to spend my first day back after a long weekend,” Damien quipped as they walked down the hall.
“Glad you enjoyed it,” Reno pressed the elevator button and leaned against the wall to wait for its arrival. “If you’d been here on time this morning instead of coming in two hours late you could have had even more fun, like helping me complete all the paperwork that mysteriously appeared on my desk.”
“Hmm… I don’t think so.” Damien grinned. “Morning sex is way better than doing paperwork.”
“Dammit, I knew all that paperwork wasn’t mine.” Reno growled and took a swipe at him.
Damien chuckled and nimbly stepped out of arm’s reach. “You snooze, you lose. If you hadn’t left early on Friday… ”
“Five minutes hardly counts as early.” Reno pointed out. “Besides, is that any way to treat your partner? Dumping your work on my desk definitely calls for payback.”
“Such as… ?”
“I’ll let your imagination think of the thousands of ways I can get even. Then, one day when you least expect it… ” Reno smacked his hands together.
In the past a hint of worry might have marred Damien’s brow; now he just huffed a laugh and shook his head. Reno smiled and they fell into a companionable silence.
The elevator seemed exceptionally slow that day. Reno yawned loudly and rolled his shoulders. “I’m beat. When I get home, I’m going to crack open a beer and put my feet up.”
“Quit acting like an old man. You’re only a few years older than me.” Damien jabbed at the elevator button again, despite the fact that it was still lit from the initial push.
“Five years in age but in experience it’s a lot more. This job ages you fast, kid.”
“Yeah, right. Hey, why don’t you stop by my place? We’ll order in pizza and you can meet Beth.”
“Beth?” Reno frowned. “Is that the girl you were with this weekend?”
“God and you say I don’t listen! Yeah, she’s the one. She’s amazing but… ” Damien frowned and Reno’s senses went on alert.
“But what?”
Damien shifted his weight from side to side. “Well, there are a few problems.”
“She’s an Alpha’s daughter? She hates your guts? She’s already spoken for?” Reno began listing off some of the situations that Damien had already encountered in his long and varied love life.
“Well, she’s a half and I—”
Before Damien could finish, Jenny stepped out of the elevator, her eyes lighting up when she saw who was standing there. “Perfect timing! I was just coming to remind you not to forget to stop by Clancy’s tonight.”
Reno grunted, having planned on conveniently forgetting about the gathering. To some extent Damien was right. He was turning into an old man. Nights out held little appeal to him these past few years and nights out avoiding intense females were especially low on his list.
“What’s going on?” Damien enquired.
“It’s a party for Brandi,” Jenny replied.
“What’s she done now?” The words were out before Reno could stop them.
Jenny shook her head. “Don’t you listen to any of the gossip around Headquarters? She’s switching departments and moving to Casual Incidents.”
The news was like a physical blow and he actually faltered for a moment. “Oh.” He honestly couldn’t think of what else to say.
Damien slapped him on the back. “We’ll be there, won’t we, Reno? You can’t miss an opportunity like this. I’ll go pick up Beth and we’ll meet you at Clancy’s in an hour.”
Reno nodded, feeling numb and confused. While he didn’t get along with the woman, she was a constant in his life. A constant pain in the rear, to be sure but…
The elevator doors slid open and he realized he was in the parking garage without even recalling how he’d arrived.
“I’ll see you in town,” Damien waved casually while heading to his car.
Reno didn’t respond; instead he silently made his way to his vehicle and climbed in.
Brandi was leaving.
Well, not really leaving. Casual Incidents was on lower level three, however the chance of running into her, let alone working with her, was greatly diminished. And after that it was probably only a matter of time before she was put in charge of a field office.
He started the car and joined the line-up to leave the underground parking facility, his fingers clenching the steering wheel tightly.
Idly, he nodded at the other workers in their cars and let one group cut ahead of him in line. After a day of working underground, they were probably more anxious than he was to get outside and experience the sunshine.
The fact that Enforcers and Critical Incident workers were located above ground wasn’t a matter of preferential treatment but one of safety. If there ever was a security breach they were right on hand to deal with it. However, the chances of that happening were almost non-existent.
Lycan Link Headquarters was located in the proverbial ‘middle of nowhere’ near the Western US-Canadian border. It consisted of a complex system of tunnels linking several key command centres as well as living quarters for some of the employees, and lately for the refugees. On the surface, however, it gave no hint as to the large organization underneath.
Officially, to the human population, the compound was known as “The International Centre for the Study of Cryptozoological Phenomena” and supposedly housed a number of researchers devoted to the science. They even had a small museum of sorts near the front gate, which showcased plaster casts of Yeti footprints and blurred images of Bigfoot. The entrance fee was exorbitant yet they still had a few curious visitors each year. It suited their purpose though and gave them a legitimate but low-profile presence in the world. Thankfully, local residents of the area tended to keep to themselves and few asked questions about what went on at the complex miles from town.
Reno drove the distance to Clancy’s on auto-pilot. It was a roadside bar often frequented by the staff and served the basics of beer, burgers, and barbecued chicken wings. The parking lot was full, so he parked along the side of the road, and then waited for Damien. He felt the need to go in with someone and Damien was the perfect choice. The local lovelies would swarm the boy and he could just stand quietly at his side, letting the conversation wash over him.
Oh, wait. The kid was bringing his new girlfriend with him. Well, his plan would still work. Damien could introduce the girl to everyone while he just stood nearby and looked supportive.
The plan did work well for the first half of the night. He took up a spot near his partner and allowed Damien and Beth to take centre stage. Beth was shy and quiet, with soft dove grey eyes and long brown hair pulled back from her face with a simple clip. Her clothing wasn’t flashy or revealing but it did suit her slight frame. Pretty in her own way, Reno decided, though not at all the sort of girl Damien usually went for. For one thing there was an air of innocence about her, which was the antithesis of his partner. And when she spoke, her tones were soft and cultured without a hint of cussing or crudeness.
Still, the kid seemed head over heels about the female and was eager to introduce her to ev
eryone. Reno leaned against the bar, supposedly part of the happy group. People called out greetings and he responded automatically, all the while watching a certain table near the dance floor.
Brandi sat there, holding court as coworkers wished her well in her new position and gave her silly cards and gifts. Laughter drifted across the room as stories were told and good-natured teasing abounded.
Jenny had long since given up clinging to his side, though exactly when she’d left he couldn’t be sure. Apparently, at some point during the evening, she’d become discouraged with his mono-syllabic responses to her questions and the fact that he wouldn’t leave Damien’s side. Once, he noticed her dancing with Al and mentally wished the two of them luck before returning his attention to Brandi.
God, she was a sight for sore eyes. Her red hair rippled down her back in tantalizing curls. The green sweater dress she wore matched her eyes perfectly while clinging seductively to her curves. Reno shifted uncomfortably as the memory of how those curves felt caused his pants to seem tighter than they should.
He went to take a swig of his beer, realized it was empty, and ordered another.
“You okay, Reno?” Damien nudged him and with reluctance he wrenched his gaze away from Brandi and towards his partner.
“Yeah. Why you asking?”
Damien nodded towards the fresh beer in his hand. “You don’t usually have more than a couple of drinks in a night.”
“So? I can handle it. The beer doesn’t hit us as hard as it does a human; our metabolism is too high. You know that.”
“Well, the bartender doesn’t. He’s going to start wondering why you’re still standing.”
“Oh.” Reno blinked. He’d actually forgotten to keep count. It was a stupid rookie mistake which just went to prove how off-kilter he was about Brandi leaving.
A platter with a large burger and a serving of fries was shoved into his hands. “Here, eat this so it looks like you’re using the food to absorb some of the alcohol. I have to take Beth home but I’ll be back in a little while. Don’t get into trouble while I’m gone.”